Taking the plunge! C&C please.

killbillvol2

OK I'm very new to all this and can't believe the volume of information I need to take in! I've learned a lot from reading on this forum so it's time to seek some direct input. Here's few random pics I took since I got my new camera (Canon 450D). Any advice gratefully received.

l pearse

Very Very beautiful :P

No.1 is so surreal & dreamlike...where was it taken?

jen_23

I really like the second and the fourth one:)

cute_cow

really like them all. Especially like the last 1, is that Howth?

sunny2004

Simple advice, you seem to be able to see interesting stuff. you put your camera on the subject and focus..

Sounds good. but you have all the subjects above in the centre of the frame.

My advice is find how to lock the focus on your camera. normally a button, its a Canon and as I have stated before Canon is the tool of Satan.

once you have locked the focus/exposure then re-compost the image so the main subject is off centre.. move the camera around until you like how it looks and feels.

Possibly look up the law of thirds !!!

Covey

4 really excellent shots to start with.

1.

Quite well taken as your shooting into the sun, which is always difficult. You've used the branches well to minimise the effect.

The composition is maybe not the best, a little too central and the branches (whilst doing a good job on the sun) don't really enhance the pic.

For this type of shot , a sillouette can often work. To get that easily stop down anything from 1/3 to 2 stops. Don't mind the geek talk it's the serrated marker at the bottom of the screen, turned left.

2.

This is not taken with a proper macro lens, so a really good shot. Very little blown highlights ( overly white areas) so a good exposure. Could maybe be cropped a little on both sides to emphasise the flower more. Shots like these can "pop" with a little more sharpening than normal.

3.

Nice shot, nice angle too. Pity you didn't get the legs in they're important (though not always) in this type of shot. Sometimes it benefits from crouching and getting a lower viewpoint in this type of shot.

4.

Lovely shot. Perfectly exposed. Despite this shots like this can gain even more atmosphere by adding contrast and maybe reducing the exposure ever so little. That way the sky darkens and the vividness pops a little. Maybe moving a few feet right might have created a slightly better angle?

Overall if they are the first shots from you camera your doing better than most.

T.

killbillvol2

l pearse wrote: »

Very Very beautiful :P

No.1 is so surreal & dreamlike...where was it taken?

It's just off Miyajima island near Hiroshima. It's a famous Shinto shrine. Thanks!

killbillvol2

cute_cow wrote: »

really like them all. Especially like the last 1, is that Howth?

Thanks. It is indeed.

killbillvol2

sunny2004 wrote: »

Simple advice, you seem to be able to see interesting stuff. you put your camera on the subject and focus..

Sounds good. but you have all the subjects above in the centre of the frame.

My advice is find how to lock the focus on your camera. normally a button, its a Canon and as I have stated before Canon is the tool of Satan.

once you have locked the focus/exposure then re-compost the image so the main subject is off centre.. move the camera around until you like how it looks and feels.

Possibly look up the law of thirds !!!

LOL! thanks. I've read about the rule of thirds so hopefully I'll remember it the next time I'm shooting.

killbillvol2

Covey wrote: »

4 really excellent shots to start with.

1.

Quite well taken as your shooting into the sun, which is always difficult. You've used the branches well to minimise the effect.

The composition is maybe not the best, a little too central and the branches (whilst doing a good job on the sun) don't really enhance the pic.

For this type of shot , a sillouette can often work. To get that easily stop down anything from 1/3 to 2 stops. Don't mind the geek talk it's the serrated marker at the bottom of the screen, turned left.

2.

This is not taken with a proper macro lens, so a really good shot. Very little blown highlights ( overly white areas) so a good exposure. Could maybe be cropped a little on both sides to emphasise the flower more. Shots like these can "pop" with a little more sharpening than normal.

3.

Nice shot, nice angle too. Pity you didn't get the legs in they're important (though not always) in this type of shot. Sometimes it benefits from crouching and getting a lower viewpoint in this type of shot.

4.

Lovely shot. Perfectly exposed. Despite this shots like this can gain even more atmosphere by adding contrast and maybe reducing the exposure ever so little. That way the sky darkens and the vividness pops a little. Maybe moving a few feet right might have created a slightly better angle?

Overall if they are the first shots from you camera your doing better than most.

T.

Thanks for taking so much trouble to respond. Couldn't get a better shot of the Geisha as I only had a second to shoot. I'll take the rest on board and thanks again.

Covey

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Thanks for taking so much trouble to respond. Couldn't get a better shot of the Geisha as I only had a second to shoot. I'll take the rest on board and thanks again.

In situations like this, even a quick turn around to portrait format can make the difference.

T.

Tactical

I'm in complete agreement with all the comments made by the other posters.

You seem to have a natural talent and I reckon you could go a long way. Definately look up the Rule of Thirds on the 'net but don't become fixated by it. Know when to use it but don't be afraid to break it.

Superb shots, I really mean that. I like them all.

Perhaps a little less depth of field for #3.

Exposure on #2 is spot on, if I'm really critical the flower is not perfect and the background is distracting but I love the colour.

killbillvol2

Tactical wrote: »

I'm in complete agreement with all the comments made by the other posters.

You seem to have a natural talent and I reckon you could go a long way. Definately look up the Rule of Thirds on the 'net but don't become fixated by it. Know when to use it but don't be afraid to break it.

Superb shots, I really mean that. I like them all.

Perhaps a little less depth of field for #3.

Exposure on #2 is spot on, if I'm really critical the flower is not perfect and the background is distracting but I love the colour.

Thanks for the feedback. (The flower had just been through a 40 minute deluge and was the only one left standing, hence my interest in it).

Tactical

In that case it makes a difference (to me anyways) knowing that the flower had survived and this is why it was damaged. For me it kinda gives that shot a different feel.

mehfesto2

Howdy!

Apologies if this repeats what's been said, but I don't like to read feedback before I give my own!

I think #1 is a great find but perhapsa little overexposed (brighter/whiter than it should be.) You can avoid this by making the shutter speed quicker or by reducing the apenture (making the f/ number bigger). It's all a bit dead-centre too. I you pop it o one side, you might find you get more asthetically pleasing results!

2 is again a nice idea, but I just think the flower itself is a bit banjacksed! The colours and DOF are lovely.

#3 is the business. Original and interesting. Personally I'd have put her to one side of the frame aswell, but that's a persobal thing. Also, you could boost the colours in Photoshop and make the picture stand out a bit more. If you dont have PS, I've a thread in the Editing Forum about free websites you can use/download.

#4 is great. Nice and sharp and colourful. Interesting cloud formation and a strong angle. I might have waited until the bloke on the right of the picture wandered off before hitting the shutter myself, but again that's a personal thing. And again it's a little central for me!

Have you read about the Rule Of Thirds. You can google it and get great explanations and examples that could help your shots be more technically pleasing to the eye. When you read about it first, I at least, foundmyself looking for it all over the place. It's not hard to notice, and it really does make some shots that could've been a bit drab a whole lot more interesting!

Lovely shots overall and hopfully I've helped.
I'm not sure how new you are so I apologise if I seemed a bit condescending!

killbillvol2

mehfesto2 wrote: »

Howdy!

Apologies if this repeats what's been said, but I don't like to read feedback before I give my own!

I think #1 is a great find but perhapsa little overexposed (brighter/whiter than it should be.) You can avoid this by making the shutter speed quicker or by reducing the apenture (making the f/ number bigger). It's all a bit dead-centre too. I you pop it o one side, you might find you get more asthetically pleasing results!

2 is again a nice idea, but I just think the flower itself is a bit banjacksed! The colours and DOF are lovely.

#3 is the business. Original and interesting. Personally I'd have put her to one side of the frame aswell, but that's a persobal thing. Also, you could boost the colours in Photoshop and make the picture stand out a bit more. If you dont have PS, I've a thread in the Editing Forum about free websites you can use/download.

#4 is great. Nice and sharp and colourful. Interesting cloud formation and a strong angle. I might have waited until the bloke on the right of the picture wandered off before hitting the shutter myself, but again that's a personal thing. And again it's a little central for me!

Have you read about the Rule Of Thirds. You can google it and get great explanations and examples that could help your shots be more technically pleasing to the eye. When you read about it first, I at least, foundmyself looking for it all over the place. It's not hard to notice, and it really does make some shots that could've been a bit drab a whole lot more interesting!

Lovely shots overall and hopfully I've helped.
I'm not sure how new you are so I apologise if I seemed a bit condescending!

Thanks for taking so much time to respond. No. 1 was in very difficult light (for a beginner) but thanks for the tip re aperture & shutter speed. If we ever get a sunset here again I'll try it!

The flower was battered after a deluge as I explained to Tactical.

I'll mess around in PS with no. 3 based on what you've said. I'd love to have had more time to take over the picture at the time but there was a large group of Japanese tourists approaching from my right as I took it!

And for the last one that guy just wouldn't go away! And when he did others replaced him...you just can't win.

Thanks again for your help.

mehfesto2

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Thanks for taking so much time to respond. No. 1 was in very difficult light (for a beginner) but thanks for the tip re aperture & shutter speed. If we ever get a sunset here again I'll try it!

The flower was battered after a deluge as I explained to Tactical.

I'll mess around in PS with no. 3 based on what you've said. I'd love to have had more time to take over the picture at the time but there was a large group of Japanese tourists approaching from my right as I took it!

And for the last one that guy just wouldn't go away! And when he did others replaced him...you just can't win.

Thanks again for your help.

Ah, I see.
I know what you mean about #4. You can wait all day for a quiet spell in some places and other days when you want human involvement, there'll be no one around!

I just read about the battered flower now. Makes more sense in context. I like it!

All the best for the future!

sheesh

love the first one I have seen it on post cards its a complete classic the only problem i have with it is the trees poking in from the top

the second last one looks a bit dull to me maybe you could up the saturation or try some method to give them a bit more pop (sorry) because its an interesting photograph.

Ballyman

I think the last one would look stunning if you removed all colour except red.

killbillvol2

sheesh wrote: »

love the first one I have seen it on post cards its a complete classic the only problem i have with it is the trees poking in from the top

the second last one looks a bit dull to me maybe you could up the saturation or try some method to give them a bit more pop (sorry) because its an interesting photograph.

Thanks. I've been messing with the geisha one because I like it a lot myself. What about this? Any better?



Ballyman, I like that idea. I'll see if I can muster the patience to try it.